NOTORIOUS Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'notorious' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of notorious are celebrated , distinguished , eminent , famous , illustrious , noted , and renowned . While all these words mean "known far and wide," notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil. // a notorious gangster

Q: When is 'celebrated' a more appropriate choice than 'notorious'?

The meanings of celebrated and notorious largely overlap; however, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print. // the most celebrated beauty of her day

Q: When would 'distinguished' be a good substitute for 'notorious'?

The words distinguished and notorious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority. // a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

Q: In what contexts can 'eminent' take the place of 'notorious'?

In some situations, the words eminent and notorious are roughly equivalent. However, eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character. // the country's most eminent writers

Q: When could 'famous' be used to replace 'notorious'?

Although the words famous and notorious have much in common, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known. // a famous actress

Q: When can 'illustrious' be used instead of 'notorious'?

The synonyms illustrious and notorious are sometimes interchangeable, but illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person. // illustrious war heroes

Q: When is it sensible to use 'noted' instead of 'notorious'?

While the synonyms noted and notorious are close in meaning, noted suggests well-deserved public attention. // the noted mystery writer

Q: When might 'renowned' be a better fit than 'notorious'?

The words renowned and notorious can be used in similar contexts, but renowned implies more glory and acclamation. // one of the most renowned figures in sports history

notorious

adjective

nō-ˈtȯr-ē-əs

Definition of notorious next

as in infamous

not respectable a notorious mastermind of terrorist activities

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in famous

widely known a book signing for a notorious author of tell-all celebrity biographies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word notorious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of notorious are celebrated, distinguished, eminent, famous, illustrious, noted, and renowned. While all these words mean "known far and wide," notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

When is celebrated a more appropriate choice than notorious?

The meanings of celebrated and notorious largely overlap; however, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

When would distinguished be a good substitute for notorious?

The words distinguished and notorious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

In what contexts can eminent take the place of notorious?

In some situations, the words eminent and notorious are roughly equivalent. However, eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

When could famous be used to replace notorious?

Although the words famous and notorious have much in common, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

When can illustrious be used instead of notorious?

The synonyms illustrious and notorious are sometimes interchangeable, but illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

When is it sensible to use noted instead of notorious?

While the synonyms noted and notorious are close in meaning, noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

When might renowned be a better fit than notorious?

The words renowned and notorious can be used in similar contexts, but renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of notorious In early 1976, notorious shyster Morris Levy, known for mob connections and running a successful record label without paying a cent to any artists on it, made a discovery. —

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024 Monday's shooting took place 12 years after one of the most notorious school shootings in U.S. history — the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. —

Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024 Former detainees at the notorious Saydnaya prison near Damascus said Amer had disappeared in mid-April 2015 after being tortured there. —

Irene Nasser, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024 Those who did speak out often disappeared into Syria's notorious prison system, known for soul-crushing torture and killings. —

Brittney Melton, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for notorious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for notorious

Adjective

That infamous 1911 disaster in Greenwich Village took the lives of 146 garment workers—123 of them women, and many, adolescents, some as young as 14.

Fiona Alison Duncan, ARTnews.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Every Newcastle fan of a certain generation remembers Ruud Gullit’s infamous spell as manager and the mutiny that was caused by him dropping Alan Shearer, the local hero, for a derby defeat against Sunderland, early in the 1999-2000 season.

Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024